Mustard Gas

By Colleen


Origin

Mustard gas was first reported by Victor Meyer in 1886. It is a synthetic substance that is prepared by treating ethylene sulfur chloride (Levinstein process) or by treating 2, 2'-dihydroxyethyl sulfide with HCl gas (German process). Mustard gas was first used in chemical warfare in 1917.



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mustard_gas
Formula of Mustard Gas


Chemical Structure

(ClCH2CH2)2S

CH2CH2Cl
/
S
\
CH2CH2Cl

Properties

Color: colorless or yellow liquid at 1 atm and 15°C.
Natural State: Oily liquid at 1 atm and 15°C.
Melting point: 13 to 14°C
Boiling point: 215 to 217°C
Vapor pressure at: 0°C 0.025 mm 30°C 0.090 mm
Solubility: very sparingly in water; soluble in fats and organic solvents.
Heavier than water.
Smells like mustard, garlic, or horseradish

Type of Compound

Mustard gas is an alkene that contains chlorine. It is not found naturally because it is synthetically made. Several chemical names of mustard gas are:

1, 1' thiobis [2 chloroethane]
bis-(2-chloroethyl) sulphide
beta, beat' dichloroetyl sulphide
2, 2' dichloroethyl sulphide
bis (beta-chloroethyl) sulphide
1-chloro-2 (beta-chlorodiethylthio) ethane

Uses

Mustard gas is mostly used in chemical warfare. It was first used in 1917 during World War I. It was deadly because mustard gas can enter someone's system through the skin, so gas masks were almost useless against them.

Effects of Mustard Gas

Mustard gas is very dangerous if ingested in large quantities.


Links

http://www.inchem.org/documents/pims/chemical/mustardg.htm#PartTitle:3.%20%20PHYSICO-CHEMICAL%20PROPERTIES